Football Training Aid

ABSTRACT

A glove comprising a trap or palm area that is designed to receive the end section of a football is provided herein. The shape of the glove has a continuous round edge, which allows the edge to act as a funnel to guide all errant throws into the webbing of the glove. With the rounded shape of the glove, the overall width of the glove will allow for a larger surface area for successfully catching a throw. The overall width and larger surface area of the glove further serves to reduce the chance a caught football will pop out of the glove.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 16/816,914 filed Mar. 12, 2020, entitled “Football Training Aid”, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/825,490 filed on Mar. 28, 2019, entitled “Gridiron Glove”, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a football training aid, and more particularly, to a glove that allows users to more easily catch footballs while reducing the discomfort of repeated catches.

Description of the Related Art

Gloves are generally worn to protect the hands of the user wearing the glove. The field of sporting goods is replete with gloves that have been adapted for the particular sport being played. For example, in baseball a glove is worn to enable the wearer to catch a baseball and to reduce the force of impact. The glove protects the wearer's hand by absorbing some of the force imparted by the ball. Baseball gloves traditionally have padding built into the palm of the glove for reducing the force of impact. The padding cushions the blow delivered by the ball, protecting the wearer from pain and injury. The protective features of a baseball glove are particularly important for protecting from the repeated impacts that typically occur during practice sessions.

Various materials, such as felt or cotton, have traditionally been used as padding in baseball gloves. The amount of cushioning provided is dependent upon the type and thickness of the padding material. With the demand for a greater degree of protection, the thickness of the padding in baseball gloves has been increased. While improving the ability of the glove to absorb the force of impact, the increased thickness interferes with the wearer's ability to catch a ball.

The size and shape of gloves are important in order to maximize the efficiency and protective qualities of the glove. Sporting gloves are designed in a particular shape so that they more functional and allow a player to be more effective. A baseball glove substantially increases the catching area of a wearer's hand. The glove must be somewhat flexible, enabling the wearer to effectively manipulate the glove. When the wearer feels the ball strike the glove, he must quickly bring the edges of the glove around the ball to prevent it from dropping to the ground. Similarly, the player must be able to efficiently release the ball and transfer it to his other hand.

Increasing the amount of padding material provided in the baseball glove sacrifices the amount of control the wearer will have when catching a ball. The thicker glove is more difficult to manipulate, interfering with the wearer's ability to retain the ball. The feel of the ball is substantially diminished by the thicker padding, increasing wearer's reaction time to the impact of the ball. Although the additional padding more effectively absorbs the force of impact, the reduced flexibility and increased response time significantly reduces the wearer's ability to catch a ball. A baseball glove which substantially absorbs the force of impact imparted by the ball while maximizing the wearer's control for catching a ball is desirable.

While gloves exist for many different sports such as baseball, hockey, lacrosse, and so on, there is no glove that has been designed for use with the sport of American football that allows a player to catch the ball more easily. Football gloves do exist, but they are thin, fingered gloves intended to be worn by players to increase the friction or stickiness of their hand while providing minimal protection or cushioning. These gloves do not offer significant protection or reduce injury that can occur in practice from repeatedly catching a football. The present invention satisfies this deficiency in the prior art by providing a glove that makes it easier to catch a football and effectively absorbs the force of impact.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is specifically designed trap a football while protecting a player's hand. The invention provides a glove comprising a trap or palm area that is designed to receive the end section of a football. The shape of the glove has a continuous round edge, which allows the edge to act as a funnel to guide all errant throws into the webbing of the glove. With the rounded shape of the glove, the overall width of the glove will allow for a larger surface area for successfully catching a throw. The overall width and larger surface area of the glove further serves to reduce the chance a caught football will pop out of the glove. Lace webbing constructed as part of the glove comprises horizontal vertical strips of leather woven together, which offers flexibility and visibility. Furthermore, the glove is designed to be water resistant so that players using the present invention in wet or damp conditions have some protection from the elements.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a glove designed to catch a football is provided that can be worn on the right or left hand of a user. The palm and finger areas of the glove are constructed to protect the user from soreness, injury and fatigue caused by a football being received in the palm of the glove. The design of the glove provides protection of the hand and therefore reduced risk of injury, fatigue, soreness, for the user. Modifications of the finger and hand area of the glove allow users to more easily catch footballs. Some of the modifications include introducing layers of padding to protect the middle phalanx of the index finger above the proximal interphalangeal joint and below the center axis of rotation of the distal interphalangeal joint. Padding may also be added to layer the proximal phalanx of the long finger above the metacarpal phalangeal joint and below the center axis of rotation of the proximal interphalangeal joint, as well as other areas of the hand or fingers. The padding architecture of the glove comprises a sheet form and is trace stitched in areas where the individual digits may require improved flexibility and/or articulation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side rear view of the finger area of a glove designed to catch a football as according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevated rear view of a glove designed to catch a football as according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of a glove designed to catch a football as according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side rear view of the webbing area of a glove designed to catch a football showing the interior of the glove and football trap area as according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a glove designed to catch a football as according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the hand opening and surrounding padding according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1-4 that will be discussed together, there is shown a football training aid for use when catching a football. The present invention provides a glove that is scaled and shaped to trap a football when it caught by the user. The glove comprises several areas that server to receive and stop a football while minimizing impact and shock to the hand of the user. The user's hand enters the bottom of the glove through a hand entrance (101). The user's fingers and palm enter an area within the glove that is the palm compartment (104) while the thumb enters a separate area that is the thumb compartment (105). Between the thumb compartment (105) and palm compartment (104) is a separation, an area that comprises the trap (106) of the glove. The trap (106) is the part of the glove that is the primary arrest area for the football when it is caught by a user. That is, the trap (106) stops the forward motion of the football while containing it and preventing it from falling out of the glove.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the trap (106) is comprised of a vertical member (103) and two horizontal members (100) that are woven or otherwise attached together. In other embodiments of the invention, there may be any of a plurality of vertical members (103) or differing numbers of horizontal (100) members. The illustrated embodiment that has one vertical member (103) and two horizontal members (100) is exemplary in nature only.

The vertical (103) and horizontal (100) members are constructed from a flexible and durable material such as leather and are spaced so that a user can see between the members if necessary. The size of the trap (106) is such that the height of the trap (106) is the same as, or slightly taller, than the circumference of a football. The width of the trap (106) is approximately the same as the circumference of a football but can be slightly smaller or larger in some embodiments. In an embodiment of the present invention, the vertical member (103) has lacing that is similar to the lacing found on a football.

The palm compartment (104) is where the fingers and palm of a user reside when wearing the glove. In some embodiments the palm compartment (104) can have a layer of padding to pad the middle phalanx of the index finger above the proximal interphalangeal joint and below the center axis of rotation of the distal interphalangeal joint. The padding can also layer the proximal phalanx of the long finger above the metacarpal phalangeal joint and below the center axis of rotation of the proximal interphalangeal joint. The architecture of the padding can be a sheet form and trace stitched in areas where the individual digit may require improved flexibility or articulation.

To further increased flexibility and articulation, embodiments of the invention can have 2 or 4-way stretch materials aside the fingers in the palm compartment (104) and aside the thumb in the thumb compartment (105) that operate to improve finger flexibility in the bony areas of the fingers and thumbs. Thin, elasticized material may be used in the area of the finger joints and knuckles and soft padding such as brushed cotton flannel, leather, neoprene or other man-made materials can be placed inside the compartments (104), (105), or on the exterior of the glove in selected areas.

The area of the glove comprising the palm compartment (104) has a continuous rounded edge extending around the entirety of the glove. The trap (106) had a rounded edge, the palm compartment (104) has a rounded edge, the thumb compartment (105) has a rounded edge, and the front of the hand opening (101) has a rounded edge that all form a single, continuous rounded edge around the entire glove. The rounded edge is designed and constructed to be a funnel that guides errant throws into the trap (106) of the glove.

The dimensions of the glove are designed to allow a football to be caught within the glove and to prevent the football from inadvertently exiting the glove. The distance from the center of the trap (106) to the rounded edge of the thumb compartment (105) is approximately half the length of a football. On the opposite side of the glove, the distance from the center of the trap (106) to the rounded edge of the palm compartment (104) is approximately the same, or slightly less, than the length of a football. These proportions allow the glove to capture football without it being deflected or falling out.

Embodiments of the present invention are constructed from durable, moisture-resistant materials such as leather or other suitable natural or man-made materials. In an embodiment of the present invention, the glove is constructed from a pebble-grain leather similar to the leather that a football glove is constructed from.

Another embodiment of the disclosure is a glove with a trap area, palm compartment, hand opening, and a thumb compartment; an outer edge of the glove which is a continuous, rounded edge; the trap having a first distance from a center of the trap to a rounded thumb edge of the thumb compartment, wherein the first distance is within a range of 5.25″-11.5″, which in range is equal to half of a length to a full length of a football from point to point; and a second the distance from the center of the trap to a rounded palm edge of the palm compartment, wherein the second distance is within a range of 3.38″-7.50″ which is equal to half a width to a full width of a football; the outer edge of the glove capable of funnelling to the trap area, and being constructed of material comprising an external durable, moisture-resistant material and internal flexible padding, without rigid internal reinforcement.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention. To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of this application. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A football training aid to practice catching an American football, the aid comprising: a glove with a trap area, palm compartment, hand opening, and a thumb compartment; an outer edge of the glove which is a continuous, rounded edge; the trap having a first distance from a center of the trap to a rounded thumb edge of the thumb compartment, wherein the first distance is within a range of 5.25″-11.5″, which in range is equal to half of a length to a full length of a football from point to point; and a second the distance from the center of the trap to a rounded palm edge of the palm compartment, wherein the second distance is within a range of 3.38″-7.50″ which is equal to half a width to a full width of a football; the outer edge of the glove capable of funneling to the trap area, and being constructed of material comprising an external durable, moisture resistant material and internal flexible padding, without rigid internal reinforcement.
 2. The football training aid of claim 1 wherein the trap area comprises one vertical member and two horizontal members.
 3. The football training aid of claim 1 wherein an outer edge of the trap area, palm compartment, and hand opening are rounded.
 4. The football training aid of claim 3 wherein the rounded edges of the trap area, palm compartment, hand opening, and thumb compartment together form the outer edge of the glove.
 5. A glove for catching a football comprising: an area within the glove for a user's palm and fingers; an area within the glove for a user's thumb; a trap area, constructed between the area for the user's palm and fingers and the area for the user's thumb, that is designed to trap a football; the trap area having a distance to an edge of the area within the glove for a user's thumb that is approximately half of a length of a football; the trap area having a distance from a center of the trap to the edge of the area within the glove for a user's palm and fingers of that is approximately the same as, or slightly less, than 11″; and the glove having a continuous rounded edge constructed of material comprising an external durable, moisture resistant material and internal flexible padding but without internal rigid reinforcement.
 6. The glove of claim 5 further comprising an opening for a user to insert their hand.
 7. The glove of claim 5 wherein the trap area is comprised of a vertical member and at least one cross member.
 8. The glove of claim 5 wherein the trap area, the area for the user's palm and fingers and the area for the user's thumb have rounded edges.
 9. The glove of claim 5 wherein the glove is constructed from leather.
 10. A football training aid comprising: a trap area; a palm compartment; a thumb compartment; wherein the trap area is constructed between the palm compartment and the thumb compartment; the trap area, the palm compartment, and the thumb compartment being attached together such that they have a common, continuous rounded edge, which edge is constructed of material comprising an external durable, moisture resistant material and continuous internal flexible padding but without rigid internal reinforcement; the trap area being positioned approximately half the length of a football, measured point to point, from an edge of the thumb compartment; and the palm compartment being positioned approximately the length of, or slightly less than, an exterior length of a football from an edge of palm compartment.
 11. The football training aid of claim 10 wherein the trap area comprises at least one vertical member and at least one horizontal member that are attached.
 12. The football training aid of claim 10 wherein the palm compartment and the thumb compartment are capable of funneling a football toward the trap area.
 13. The football training aid of claim 10 wherein the palm compartment is a padded palm compartment. 